Casio introduces Exilim EX-ZR10 with back-illuminated sensor

Pre-Photokina 2010: Casio has introduced the Exilim EX-ZR10 with a 12.4Mp back-illuminated CMOS sensor. Powered by the latest Exilim Engine HS engine, it can record high-speed movies at up to 480 fps as well as 1080p full HD movies. It comes with a 28-196mm equivalent lens and 3.0 inch LCD, and features in-built HDR processing plus 360 degrees panoramic image capture with what it calls a 'Slide Panorama' mode.

The wide-angle 28 mm 7X optical zoom lens achieves zoom performance equivalent to 14X optical zoom with Casio’s Multi Frame SR Zoom, which actually combines a number of still images to create a sharp, clear photo. In addition, the dual image processing circuits built into the new engine dramatically reduce the interval between shots, and ultra-high speed burst shooting captures crucial moments at a maximum speed of 40 shots per second. These functions make sure you’ll never miss a shot.

The EX-ZR10 comes with the new EXILIM ENGINE HS and a high-sensitivity, 12-megapixel, back-illuminated CMOS sensor. Its high-speed burst shooting brings a professional touch to basic camera functions like shooting, viewing and recording. The high speed engine enables the user to record high precision videos and detailed continuous shooting with the support of its multiple CPU’s, a reconfigurable processor, and dual image processing circuits.

With Casio’s HDR technology, several exposures will be combined to create a single sharp image at the press of a button. This ensures that both light and dark areas are clearly visible in the photograph and minimises washed out or overly dark areas.

The wide range of shooting options also includes Premium Auto which takes beautiful photos with just a press of the button, and Slide Panorama that allows users to easily capture 360-degree panoramic images. The camera also offers a full range of movie functions. In addition to high-speed movie recording at up to 480 fps for slow motion movies, the EX-ZR10 also takes full HD movies (H.264). While shooting a movie, users can also capture still images with the optical zoom and burst shooting function.

EXILIM EX-ZR10 Features

New EXILIM ENGINE HS with high-speed shooting and high-speed image processing
The EX-ZR10 incorporates the newly developed EXILIM ENGINE HS for high-speed shooting and high-speed processing. Equipped with multiple CPUs, a reconfigurable processor, and dual image processing circuits, the engine can handle parallel operations such as movies and continuous shooting in a way that was impossible before. Further, the compositing function using high precision image analysis and processing records highly detailed images without losing any of the fine texture with high speed.

HDR technology accurately represents living colour
With Casio’s HS HDR technology, each press of the button actually takes several shots with different exposures and instantly combines them into a single image with a high dynamic range. This ensures that both light and dark areas are vividly reproduced in the photograph, minimising washed out or overly dark areas, reproducing the scene just as seen by the human eye. The EX-ZR10 uses algorithms that expand the dynamic range while maintaining sharpness, even when shooting subjects in strong contrast situations.

Zoom up to 14X while maintaining refined image quality
The wide-angle 28 mm 7X optical zoom lens offers zoom performance equivalent to a maximum of 14X optical zoom while maintaining the image quality needed for high-resolution photography. This is achieved using multi-frame super-resolution technology which makes a composite image.

Ultra-high speed burst shooting captures crucial moments at a speed of 40 shots per second
The EX-ZR10 can take up to 30 shots of 10 megapixel high-resolution images with high-speed burst shooting at a maximum speed of 40 shots per second. What is more, if the camera is set to Prerecord Continuous Shutter, users will not miss a single critical moment even if they press the shutter a little late, since the camera starts shooting when the shutter button is only depressed halfway.

Premium Auto produces beautiful photos with just a press of a button
Premium Auto enables the camera to automatically analyse the scene being photographed — including distinguishing night scenes, back lighting, a blue sky, green trees or a sunset — as well as sensing whether there is a face in the frame, the movement and position of the subject, and whether a tripod is being used. It simultaneously optimises settings for exposure, ISO, sensitivity, focus location, photo blur correction, tonal range and colour balance, and level of noise reduction. Images are analysed pixel by pixel to apply different correction to people and backgrounds. Premium Auto delivers an advanced level of full auto photography, ensuring high quality photos with just a press of the button

Slide Panorama for capturing 360-degree panoramic images
This function makes it easy to take panoramic images, simply by panning the camera across the scene with the shutter button pressed.

High-speed movie recording at up to 480 fps for dramatic, ultra-slow motion movies
The EX-ZR10 can record high-speed movies of motion that is ordinarily too fast for the human eye to see (480 fps, 240 fps, 30-240 fps,).

Beautiful high-resolution full HD movies
The Full HD Movie function records beautiful videos at a size of 1,920 x 1,080 pixels. While shooting a movie, users can also quickly capture still images with the Still In Movie function which uses the optical zoom and continuous auto focus.

The Panasonic FZ1000 II is a worthy successor to the company's first large-sensor, long-zoom bridge camera, and a value-conscious rival to the popular Sony RX10-series. It's just as fast as its predecessor but produces nicer JPEGs, has significantly improved controls and interface, and more.

Latest buying guides

What’s the best camera costing over $2000? The best high-end camera costing more than $2000 should have plenty of resolution, exceptional build quality, good 4K video capture and top-notch autofocus for advanced and professional users. In this buying guide we’ve rounded up all the current interchangeable lens cameras costing over $2000 and recommended the best.

If you're looking for a high-quality camera, you don't need to spend a ton of cash, nor do you need to buy the latest and greatest new product on the market. In our latest buying guide we've selected some cameras that might be a bit older but still offer a lot of bang for the buck.

What's the best camera for shooting sports and action? Fast continuous shooting, reliable autofocus and great battery life are just three of the most important factors. In this buying guide we've rounded-up several great cameras for shooting sports and action, and recommended the best.

Believe it or not, there are still people that like to print out their photos and create photo books to send gifts to family members. We looked at five popular photo printing services and have chosen the best.

If you are looking for a fun photography project to try, Mathieu Stern has a neat idea for you. Using the 'anthotype' process, Stern used only beetroot juice, paper, a photo positive and a bit of time in the sun to create a phytotype photograph.

Cameras' video capabilities just keep getting better. But what if you're not interested in video? Here's why you probably won't get stills-only versions of most cameras, and why they wouldn't be cheaper, if you did.

DxO has announced Nik Collection 3. The popular plugin suite includes a new Perspective Efex plugin for fixing distortion and adjusting perspective, bringing the total number of plugins in the suite to eight.

The term 'computational photography' gets used a lot these days, but what exactly is it? In this article, the first in a three-part series, guest contributor Vasily Zubarev dives deep to show us how photography will work in the future.